Zidane is the king of top matches. He has never lost (despite the injuries of the leaders), helps the team with subtle variable solutions

 This season, Madrid have never lost a top match. The exact statistics depend on the circle of teams that we include in the number of big opponents, but at any count, 0 is stored in the defeat graph. Here is one of the options (taking into account the meetings against Barcelona, ​​Inter, Sevilla, Atlético, Atalanta and Liverpool)

These statistics are even more impressive when you consider the conditions in which Zidane operates. “We have a very demanding calendar, which led to a huge number of injuries. They are important not only because the coach cannot use certain players, but also because those who play do not get enough rest, ”Dani Carvajal was rightly indignant.

This season, Madrid are breaking records for the number of injuries - the club even initiated an internal investigation. This made the described victories even more heroic and difficult. Of course, some of the injuries are due to mistakes in preparation. When fully evaluating the work of Zidane's headquarters, this must be taken into account, but in this casewe are evaluating a specific aspect - his performance in big matches. It became more difficult, but this only made Zizu shine more - he always found subtle solutions and masked the lack of leaders....

Let's take a look at why Madrid are so good at key games. 

Zidane has a wide range of tactical flexibility, and the lineup is suitable for playing in space

For most top teams, tactical flexibility is a combination of familiar dogmas with important details. For example, the Manchester City dogma is to dominate by ownership in any scenario; a detail within this dogma could be the use of Kevin De Bruyne (a key attacking player) in a zone that is more vulnerable to the opponent (for example, frequent displacements to the left semi-flank). There may be many such adaptations, but the dogma cannot be revised.

Liverpool's dogma is ball-oriented zonal pressure. Jurgen Klopp can change accents with the ball and even the starting lineup, but he will never play without pressure or with a different pressure model. 

Sometimes the dogma revolves around a specific player. The most striking example is Lionel Messi at Barcelona. Barça not only need to possess the ball, but possess it in such a way that Leo gets it in his own zone (right flank / semi-flank) and has a lot of options for an ingenious sharpening pass. Again: the details around the dogma changed (only this season, Koeman tried 5 formations), but the key idea persisted. 

At the distance of the season, dogmas help - they make the team more recognizable stylistically and allow pumping certain aspects to an incredible level (the described teams, though at the elite level, have their own proprietary techniques). But in specific matches, they can shackle. 

Madrid has no tactical dogma... Zidane won with high possession and counterattacks; enticing the opponent and, conversely, sweeping away from the first minutes; with and without pressure; through zone defense and thanks to the personnel. This is the plus, minus and paradox of this command. 

Zidane's tactical range is wider than that of any other top club coach. The only thing missing is stable bus destruction tools.... Zinedin himself spoke about this: “It is hard for any team when the opponent sits deep. We must find new solutions against teams that defend low and coherently. We need to create more moments in such meetings. It is true that it is more difficult for us against teams that set up a barrier of two compact lines in an organized manner. "

In autumn, Shakhtar's coach Luis Castro told how to create problems for Madrid: “Against the teams that play with a low and even average block, Real Madrid have problems. We allowed their flank players to have the ball, but blocked the space in the center zone. I think my team defended well. Most of Madrid's attacks came down to the edges, but we closed the flanks with the help of defensive triangles. "

As a rule, in such matches, "Real" rolls into overhangs, which in a particular scenario are too predictable and ineffective. Also, playing through canopies creates problems when defending counterattacks (it is difficult to control the entire rebound zone and it is almost impossible to use counterpressing). In 9 games of the season with the most crossings , Madrid have 0 wins (5 draws, 4 losses)

In big matches, hacking a deep opponent is usually not required. You can either lure him into pressing and use the space, or give the ball and catch in quick attacks. The exception is Atlético, but in specific games the problem was bypassed. For the first time through a quick goal from a set (and then they dominated in a convenient scenario), and the second match turned out to be the most difficult of the top ones (they were saved only at the very end).

In other matches, Madrid get the opportunity to play in a space that naturally suits Zidane's team. ActuallyReal Madrid have excellent results in any matches where there is a chance to give the ball to the opponent... It's just that among the top rivals there are more often those who provide convenient conditions:

6 wins and 2 misfires, but context matters. In the return game against Liverpool 0: 0 - a positive result, which guaranteed a pass. And the match with "Levante" "Madrid" from the 9th minute played in the minority - too abnormal conditions to overestimate the significance of the defeat.  

In such a scenario, two things are most important: 1) to endure stretches of pressure from the opponent, avoiding good chances; 2) sharply counterattack. Due to the nature of their roster, Madrid do both brilliantly. 

Specifically for these tasks the most important are Casemiro, hard-working fast wingers and Benzema... Casemiro is the glue that closes key areas in positional defense, helping both center-backs and a couple of midfielders (and can also glue pressure if Zidane decides to play through him).

Benzema is the intelligence of the counterattack and the potential finisher. His movement creates space for fast, capable wingers. The standard of such a winger is Vinicius Junior (although Asensio and Rodrigo also fit the definition). They are efficient enough to help out on the flanks without the ball, while being great in space.

Due to the natural qualities of these players, Madrid are already receiving valuable bonuses in the type of matches they want. Then they are multiplied by Zidane's incredibly well-aimed adaptations for specific rivals. 

Madrid chooses a pressure and positional defense scheme for the opponent

Let's take a look at Zizu's specific solutions. Let's start with the organization of defense. The key to victories over Inter and Liverpool was high pressure, but Madrid built the pressure in different ways.

With Inter, the teams' formations (4-3-3 versus 3-1-4-2) naturally mirrored each other. Zidane's solution:play through radical personal pressure:

The positions of the players under pressure were determined by the positions of direct opponents. All players went to the end - for example, here the central defender Rafa Varane categorically advanced high behind Perisic (who played the striker in that meeting):

Because of the overlapping diagrams, the plan was logical. Because of the integrity and willingness to play tightly all over the field, it worked in practice.